Age:

26

Job Description:

To brainstorm, pitch, write, and edit stories for Columbia’s only B2B magazine, CBT.

Years lived in Mid-Missouri:

All of them, except for four years in Arkansas for college.

Original Hometown:

Columbia, MO

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from John Brown University

Professional Background:

Shall we start with my very first “big girl” job where I was a barista at a local coffee shop? Or, what about when I was hired as an elf for Bass Pro’s Santa’s Wonderland? Or, we could talk about how I worked for DaySpring, a subsidiary of Hallmark, during college. That’s where my real professional career began. It was there I learned how to edit publications and what would make a compelling photo. My first post-college job landed me at a startup marketing company where I wore many hats: web designer, social media expert, Google AdWords extraordinaire, and blog writer. And right before landing at CBT, I was working with well-known business publications to provide them with content from thought leaders all over the world.

Favorite thing about my job:

Reading about what the people and businesses in our community are doing.

Why I’m passionate about my company:

The Business Times Company seeks to grow and support Columbia’s community through telling stories behind our favorite businesses, digging into issues that affect many of us, and shining a light on people who are doing good for our city. That’s a mission I can support.

Favorite Mid-Missouri restaurant:

I can’t pick just one! I love Meriwether’s Cafe’ for breakfast – anything on the menu, The Pasta Factory’s tortellini with peas and prosciutto for lunch, and 44 Canteen’s Sweet Teaner when I want a drink.

A Mid-Missouri business person I admire and why:

Carrie Watkins, editorial relations director at Influence & Co. She taught me the value of building and maintaining relationships with people through small touch points. She was also my favorite person to vision cast with when we worked together.

What I do for fun:

Travel! During the even-numbered years, I travel internationally, usually to the United Kingdom, and on the odd-numbered years I travel within the states, usually to Grand Teton National Park.

Favorite color:

Teal, unless we’re talking about flowers and then it’s apricot.

If I weren’t doing this for a living, I would:

Spend my summers in Grand Teton National Park and the rest of the year traveling around the world writing about the places I visit.

My next goal:

Buy a new car for the first time.

Most people don’t know that I:

Make the best lemon bars. Bring on the challengers!

If my co-workers could describe me in one word:

It would be “direct.”